Society meets to commemorate the martyrdom of King Charles I

The Tennessee Chapter of the Society of King Charles the Martyr held a service for the commemoration of the martyrdom of King Charles I at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Columbia on Feb. 1.

The Tennessee Chapter of the Society of King Charles the Martyr held a service for the commemoration of the martyrdom of King Charles I at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Columbia on Feb. 1.

The SKCM promotes the observance of Jan. 30, the day of the martyrdom of King Charles I of England in 1649. Charles Stuart was the son of James I and Anne of Denmark, born Nov. 19, 1600. Charles succeeded to the throne as Charles I on March 27, 1625 and married Henrietta Maria, the sister of King Louis XIII of Frances.

The House of Commons struggled for a constitutional monarchy, which was contrary to the King’s prerogatives, who like his father believed in the "divine right of kings." Not only did he oppose the politics of his enemies, but Charles steadfastly refused to do away with the Catholic constitution of the Church, that Parliament finally condemned him to death. The Puritans led by Oliver Cromwell plotted against him. At the mockery of a trial in January 1649, Charles I refused to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the court. Charles declared himself bound by his coronation oath and refused to abolish the Church, the Book of Common Prayer and the Order of Bishops.

King Charles I died to preserve the historic Anglican Church.

After the death of Cromwell in 1660 by popular demand, he was canonized by the Anglican Church. The Society of King Charles the Martyr is dedicated to the spreading of the truth about Saint Charles and winning recognition of the great debt owed him by the Anglican Communion.

For more information about the SKCM, visit www.tnskcm.org.

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